Mary Elizabeth Whitaker Hardie

Mary Elizabeth “Ibby” Whitaker Hardie went to be with our Lord Jesus Christ in heaven on Sunday, February 19, 2012. Ibby was born in El Paso, Texas, on December 7, 1921 and was the only child of Ruby May Harris Whitaker and John William Whitaker. She met the love of her life, Thornton Hardie, Jr, when she was 16 years old, and they married on December 26, 1942 in El Paso. Thornton died on February 25, 1980. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Ruby and John, by her precious great grandson, Bowen Daniel Teeple, and by a great granddaughter, Meredith Leigh Garrett, whom she never met. Surviving Ibby are her children, Mary Adele Hardie Teeple, Ann Elizabeth Hardie Reed, Thornton Hardie III and their spouses, Charles Sloan Teeple IV, William Edward Reed, and Susan Smith Hardie; her seven grandchildren, Charles Sloan Teeple V and wife Susan, Bryan Whitaker Teeple and wife Delaine, Sarah Hardie Davis and husband Gate, Amy Hardie Peeples and husband Ray, Elizabeth Hardie Watkins Garrett and husband Jacob, William Michael Reed, and Rebecca Ann Reed. Ibby was blessed with eleven great grandchildren, all of whom were present at her 90th birthday celebration in December, 2011. They are Charles Sloan Teeple VI (Chase), James Hudson Teeple, Evelyn Hardie Teeple, Charles Whitaker Teeple (Whit), Adele Chapman Teeple, Eleanor Thornton Davis, Wiley James Davis, Elise Hardie Garrett, Katherine Gillary Garrett, Ada Carolyn Peeples, and Mary Winborne Peeples. In 1967-68, the Hardie family hosted an American Field Service foreign exchange student, Fabio Schiantarelli, from Sondrio, Italy, whom is loved and considered part of the family, and with whom they have maintained contact through the years.

Ibby received her BA degree in English from the University of Texas at El Paso which was then the Texas College of Mines and Metallurgy. She was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, receiving her 50 year pin many years ago. She also attended the University of Texas in Austin for one year prior to World War II.

Ibby moved to Midland in 1947 after her husband, Thornton, graduated from the University of Texas Law School. She became a member of First Presbyterian Church where she remained the rest of her life. She served as a deacon and an elder, and she and Thornton taught 4th grade Sunday school for many years. She served as a Circle leader and Moderator of Presbyterian Women. Ibby was a founding member of the Midland Service League and a charter member of the Junior League of Midland where she served as President and Vice President, Secretary and chaired numerous committees. She was a board member of Community Chest and of the Family Counseling Service, as well as the Midland Opera Theater and Symphony Guild.

For many years, Ibby and Thornton enjoyed their home at Blue Lake Estates on Lake LBJ near Marble Falls. The family gathered there for most holidays, and they enjoyed many vacations and weekends with family and friends. They also loved traveling the world with friends, and Ibby continued her travels for many years after Thornton’s death. She felt blessed that she was able to take each of her seven grandchildren on trips to Spain and London.

A memorial service will be held Wednesday, February 22 at 10:00am at First Presbyterian Church, 800 West Texas Avenue, with Rev. Steve Schorr officiating. A reception will be held afterward in the Church Parlor. A private burial will be held prior to the memorial service in Resthaven Memorial Park under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home. Honorary pallbearers will be grandsons Sloan Teeple, Bryan Teeple, and Michael Reed, and her granddaughters’ spouses, Jacob Garrett, Gate Davis and Ray Peeples.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church Deacons Fund, Midland Memorial Hospital, High Sky Children’s Ranch or to a charity of choice.

The family would like to give heartfelt appreciation and thanks to the wonderful team of caregivers Mom has had, and to the beautiful people who worked with her for many years. We are forever thankful for Willie B Johnson, Carmen Payan, Telma Ward, Mary Leon, Yolanda Guzman, Sara Herrera, Cecilia Montoya, Anna Diaz, Melissa Cooper, and Lissett Olandez, Dr. Summer Merritt, Alice Saenz, and, of course, Sixto!